Where can I find out about a MacOS Product Distribution File?

Question

The man page for "productbuild" for Mac OS talks about a distribution file:

 --distribution dist-path
             Use the distribution file at dist-path to define the presentation, choices and packages to
             be installed by the product. Each of the package names referenced in the given distribution
             file must be found in a path specified with the --package-path flag.

But I can't find inforation about what goes in the distribution file anywhere. What sort of stuff goes in there? Is there a reference page for it?

Answer 1

It's certainly under-documented, but there is a little bit of information out there:

• http://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#documentation/DeveloperTools/Reference/DistributionDefinitionRef/Chapters/Introduction.html
• http://s.sudre.free.fr/Stuff/Ivanhoe/FLAT.html

I'd also recommend examining distribution files inside existing packages. You can expand a flat package with:

pkgutil --expand Foo.pkg destination_folder